Sports

Hockey Hall of Fame member Bryan Trottier scored 524 goals in his NHL career. Now that his playing career is over, he's hoping to score with the next generation.

Trottier hit the greens at Spruce Needles Golf Club on Thursday as part of the fourth-annual Mushkegowuk Council Youth Golf Tournament. Following a round of golf, the hockey legend was the guest speaker at the tournament's banquet.

When first approached about speaking at the event, Trottier said he was unaware of what the Mushkegowuk youth council stood for, but after learning that it promotes self-esteem and education among the youth of seven First Nation communities in Northern Ontario, he jumped at the opportunity.

"It really jived well with a lot of stuff I'm doing with First Nation communities which is getting into the communities and talking to the kids about healthy choices like staying in school and improving their reading and writing skills, looking for support so they can have a dream," Trottier said. "It doesn't matter what the dream is, it can be hockey, but it might not even be sports. It might be art or nature. There's a lot of talent in First Nation communities and it's wonderful that there are more of these programs happening now."

Mushkegowuk youth coordinator Jason Smallboy said a lot of the kids in Thursday's tournament are not old enough to have seen Trottier in his prime, but that his lasting legacy speaks volumes.

"He's accomplished so much. He's one of the top scorers in the NHL of all time," Smallboy said.

"When he was meeting and greeting everybody, they were like, 'holy. Did you see his Stanley Cup ring?'"

The seven-time Stanley Cup champion -- six times as a player and once as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche -- is now the director of player development with the New York Islanders, the team he won four-consecutive championships with.

His resumé also includes winning the Conn Smythe, Art Ross and Hart trophies, but before recording 1,425 career NHL points, Trottier remembers a kid growing up in Val Marie, Sask.

"I come from a really small

community," he said. "I grew up with grandparents that were both Native. My grandparents were fun to grow up with because they had a lot of fun stories we could relate with. We didn't have much money and each meal was interesting because we didn't know what we were going to eat."

Though Trottier's family, which had Cree and Chippewa ancestry, did not have much money, he said he was not short of inspiration.

"When I was a kid I had people I could look up to," he said.

"I tried to do things to emulate these people. I always said, 'I want to be like that or I want to be like that.' They always had a message for me. 'Hey, work hard.' Or persevere, or stay determined. Stay on the right track or make healthy choices. All through school there were many people who helped me ... I used to say to myself, 'someday, maybe I can be a mentor to these kids.'"

Elders and hockey coaches were among his mentors, but Trottier said his biggest inspiration had nothing to do with hockey.

"My dad, to me, was the greatest man I ever met," he said. "I liked the way he treated people and he was always out to have fun. He was an honest guy and very talented.

"I said to myself that I wanted to be half the man he is."

With the support of his family and community, Trottier was not afraid to dream big. Hockey legend Gordie Howe, who was also from a small town, provided further inspiration.

"Maybe there's a little chance a little Indian kid from Val Marie can make it, too," Trottier reminisced. "You just don't know."

One current project that allows him to visit Canadian First Nation communities is a literacy tour he and author Sigmund Brouwer created. The tour has primarily gone through Western Canada, but it will soon visit the East, Trottier said.

Like Trottier, Smallboy said that positively impacting youth is a great thing to do. Those in attendance at the golf tournament really took to the former NHL player.

"He's really good at motivating people," Smallboy said.

"I've been working for Mushkegowuk for two years. It's overwhelming seeing the kids and working with them when you hear positive success stories."

Trottier was to be in Vancouver today, but he hoped that his time with the kids in Timmins on Thursday was significant to them.

"Hopefully you can leave a good impression on them," Trottier said. "I want to make that difference."